Ethnic profiling in campaign literature?

[Anonymous]

I have a last name that is often Jewish. I got a campaign letter from a candidate for Montgomery County Councill with a photo of him and his son at synagogue and the letter talked about where they go to for religious services. Was I targeted?

I am not Jewish, but to me that’s immaterial. I find it offensive that he might have used some sort of software to find potentially Jewish voters.

[Anonymous]

Few different issues here. I will not common on the political angle and the sketchy decision to try to appeal to someone based on a shares religion. However, It is VERY common for mail houses to sell ethnicated lists. Same way they get segmented based on income etc. And, all the more so if some of your behavior (like buying certain things) mesh with likely behaviors of a certain group. Your credit card company sells your Day too. Privacy is dead.

[Anonymous]

Yes, this has always been done with campaign literature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a last name that is often Jewish. I got a campaign letter from a candidate for Montgomery County Councill with a photo of him and his son at synagogue and the letter talked about where they go to for religious services. Was I targeted?

I am not Jewish, but to me that’s immaterial. I find it offensive that he might have used some sort of software to find potentially Jewish voters.

He's looking for voter affinity where he can find it. Why is that so "offensive"?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Absolutely you were profiled because of your name.

[Anonymous]

Facebook thought I was Jewish for a while there. I think because I was living in Scarsdale, NY. It was kind of annoying, as I got all sorts of ads related to Jewish things. But I understand it was an attempt to find a market. Big data tries to figure out things about you and sometimes they get it wrong. I'd be surprised if someone at such a low level race would try to target mailings so specifically though. I don't see why it would be offensive.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Offensive because would a Catholic candidate be able to do this? Maybe from church member rolls, but I feel more targeted just because of my name. And it's the assumption that this letter would appeal to me that I dislike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Offensive because would a Catholic candidate be able to do this? Maybe from church member rolls, but I feel more targeted just because of my name. And it's the assumption that this letter would appeal to me that I dislike.

That’s fine. The question is, why would anyone around here highlight their religion? For public office? I thought most people here are strongly committed to the separation of church and state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Offensive because would a Catholic candidate be able to do this? Maybe from church member rolls, but I feel more targeted just because of my name. And it's the assumption that this letter would appeal to me that I dislike.

That’s fine. The question is, why would anyone around here highlight their religion? For public office? I thought most people here are strongly committed to the separation of church and state.

Exactly. Look at Brianne Nadeau in DC Council Ward 1. She caused a media storm to condemn Trayon White for his anti-semitism remarks and upped her Jewish heritage in the same breath. That's fine but it would be nice if she did the same for the violent attacks in her area.